Automatic measuring and filling apparatus for pre-determined quantity of material



Aug. 22, 1967 TOMIJI TARUKAWA 3,

AUTOMATIC MEASURING AND FILLING APPARATUS FOR PINE-DETERMINED QUANTITYOF MATERIAL Flled July 11, 1966 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 22, 1967 TOMIJITARUKAWA 3,336,724

AUTOMATIC MEASURING AND FILLING APPARATUS FOR PRE-DETERMINED QUANTITY OFMATERIAL Filed July 11, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 22, 1967 TOMIJITARUKAWA 3,336,724

AUTOMATIC MEASURING AND FILLING APPARATUS FOR PRE-DETERMINED QUANTITY OFMATERIAL Filed July 11, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet Aug. 22, 1-967 TQMIJITARUKIAWA 3,336,724 AUTOMATIC MEASURING AND FILLING APPARATUS FORPRE-DETERMINED QUANTITY OF MATERIAL Filed July 11, 1966 I 4 Sheets-Sheet4 IFIIG.6

n ii N56 T9 I 20 I mm 0 N2 NMO2 United States Patent 10 Claims. (CI.53-59 This is a continuation of my earlier application, Ser. No. 232,425filed Oct. 23, 1962, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to an automatic measuring and fillingapparatus. It is an object of the invention to provide an automaticmeasuring and filling apparatus in which the feeding of the materialinto a measuring vessel adapted for measuring a predetermined quantityof the material, and the filling of the measured material into acontainer and the transferring of the filled material are automaticallycontrolled and the feeding, filling and transferring are accuratelyperformed so that the predetermined quantity of the material can becontinuously dispensed with accuracy.

The present invention will be described in conjunction with severalembodiments taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of filling apparatus according to thepresent invention;

FIGURES 2 and 3 are a side elevational and a crosssection viewrespectively of a free wheel of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 4 shows a volume type measuring apparatus;

FIGURE 5 shows-a weight type measuring apparatus; and

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view of a further embodiment of the fillingapparatus.

Referring now to FIG. 1, L is a material feeding device in a volume typemeasuring and discharging device for liquid and L1 is its measuringvessel, at the upper edge of which is provided a supporting pillar L2. Asupporting rod L3 having a float L4 passes slidably through the pillarL2, a stopper L5 being connected to the upper end of the rod L3. Whenthe float L4 is lowered, the rod is supported by the stopper. Saidsupporting pillar L2 is integrally provided with an operative switch LS1actuated by the upward pressure of said float. The measuring of anypredetermined quantity can be performed by displacement of the operableswitch relative to the float.

A discharging port L6 attached tov the bottom of said measuring vesselL1 is provided with a discharge valve L7, rod L8 of which is attached toan opening and closing lever L9. Said opening and closing lever isconnected to cores of electromagnets LM1 and LM2 by means of a cable L10and is turned by the alternate excitation of the electromagnets to openand close the discharge valve L7. In the shown state the discharge valveL7 is in the closed position.

L11 is a tube of a liquid feeding device, in which is' arranged a feedvalve L12 of the same type as discharge valve L7. An opening and closinglever L13 is attached to its valve rod L14. Said rod L14 is connected tocores of electromagnets LMS and LM4 by means of a cable L15. L16represents one rod having a weight L17 in a switch change-over deviceand another rod L18 is connected at both ends to cores of electromagnetsLMS and LM6 by cables L19 and L20. L21 is a rotary shaft in said switchchange-over device and LS2 and LS3 are actuating switches which arelocated at rocking stop positions of the weight L17 and are closed onlywhen pressed by said weight.

' A switch LS4 is arranged proximate the discharge valve the samereaches the extreme position L7 so that it is closed when rod L9 turnsto open the discharge valve L7. A time control switch LTC actuated bythe closing of switch LS4 is in a circuit interposed between theelectromagnet LM6 in said change-over clevice and said switch LS4. Thetime control switch operates after 'a given time period so that whenmaterial in the measuring vessel L1 is completely discharged the switchactuates to energize the electromagnet LM6 and change-over thechange-over device. As a consequence of which the discharge port of themeasuring vessel will be closed, the feed valve L12 will be opened andthe filling container L23 will be advanced by a transferring device aswill be explained more fully hereinafter.

L22 is an endless belt in a transferring device which is disposed justbeneath the measuring and discharging device L and intermittentlytransfers containers L23 on the belt in the direction shown by thearrow. Said endless belt can be moved only when a rack L24 engaging witha driving gear L25 is moved to the left in FIG. 1 and is adapted to stopwhen the rack is moved to the left in FIG. 1 and is adapted to stop whenthe rack is moved to the right. The reciprocating of the rack L24 may beeffected by a change gear L26 to be rotated reversibly, said gear L26being threadably engaged with a feed screw L27 integrally connected tothe rack. The change gear L26 engages with the feed screw L27 and isheld between two fixed plates L28 so as to rotate reversibly in a fixedposition. At the left end of said feed screw L27 there is a fly wheelL29 which is provided at one end with same thread portion L30 as that ofthe feed screw L27 as shown in FIG. 2 and is loosely fitted on anannular member L31 fitted on an integral shaft L32 with the feed screwL27. As shown in FIG. 3 the inner wall of the fly wheel L29 is formedwith engaging protrusions L33 in diametrically opposite positions, whichengage with a pawl L34 mounted on said annular member L31 only when itis rotated in one direction and is idle on the annular member L31 whenit is rotated in the opposite direction. The thread portion of said feedscrew L27 will coincide with the thread portion of the fly wheel L29only when said protrusions L33 engage with the pawl L34. The rack L24can, of course, be moved leftwards or rightwards by opposite rotationsof the change gear L26 when it engages with the feed screw, but a switchLS5 is arranged in such position that it is closed by the thrust of saidrack when of its leftward movement. By the closing of said switch LS5,the rack L24 will be returned to the original position and at the sametime the discharge port of said measuring vessel L1 will be opened.Namely, said rack can be returned upon reaching the extreme position asmentioned above, but it is necessary that upon reaching the extremeposition of the rightward movement the rack is maintained at rest forsome time at this position. The fly wheel L29 is arranged at the leftend of the feed screw not to transmit the rotation of the change gearL26 to the feed screw after the same reaches the extreme position of therightward movement because the gear rotates continuously. Namely, whenthe rack L24 reaches the end point of the rightward movement, the changegear L26 engages with the thread portion L30 of the fly wheel L29. Atthis time, the fly wheel idles on the annular member L31 because thepawl L34 engages with neither of the engaging protrusions L33, and thusthe rack L24 remains at rest in spite of continuous rotation of thechange gear L26. But when the gear L26 is reversely rotated, the rack ismoved in the opposite direction because the fly wheel L29 is engagedwith the annular member L31 by operation of the pawl L34. An electricmotor LMO used in an endless belt driving device always rotates only inone direction if an electromagnetic switch LMS is energized, thereforethe reverse rotation of 3 the motor can be obtained by the changing-overof a clutch and different belting of a drive belt.

The clutch changing-over device is so formed that a pulley L35 on arotary shaft L36 is driven through a belt L37 by the motor LMO andpulleys L38 and L39 on said rotary shaft and pulleys L40 and L41 ondriven shafts L42 and L43 are belted by belts L44 and L45 respectively,the belt L44 being crossed to give opposite directions of rotation tothe driven shafts L42 and L43 from the shaft L36. A clutch actuating rodL46 is connected at both ends to electromagnets LM7 and LMS and may bemoved axially and slidably by alternative excitation of theelectromagnets. One of the ends of connecting rods L47 and L48 pivotedon shafts L49 and L50 respectively are connected to the clutch actuatingrod L46 respectively and the other ends hold clutches L51 and L52 so asto slidably move them on the driven shafts L42 and L43. When the clutchactuating rod L46 is axially moved by the exciting of any one of theelectromagnets LM7 and LM8, one clutch is engaged and thus the drivenshaft may be rotated by the belt at that side. The condition illustratedin FIG. 1 shows the driven shaft L43 rotated through the belt L45 by themotor LMO. T-he reciprocating movement of said feed screw L27 isprovided by a chain L53 disposed between the change gear L26 engagingthe feed screw L27 and a change gear L54 mounted on a rotary shaft L55which is rotated by the engaging of a clutch.

LTS indicates a time control switch which controls energizing timeperiods of the electromagnets LM1 and LM2 which are deenergized afterthe excitation of said magnets for a required time period.

Now, the operation of this apparatus will be explained.

In FIG. 1 is shown a state in which material is fed into the vessel L1in the measuring and discharging device L, wherein the weight L17 of theswitch change-over device is at the switch LS3 side so that thefollowing circuit is formed.

The electromagnets LM2 and LM4 are simultaneously energized. Thereby theopening and closing lever L9 is turned to the position shown in fulllines to close the discharge valve L7, and the feed valve L12 is in openposition under the action of the lever L14 which is turned to theposition shown in full lines. Consequently, liquid supply for the vesselL1 is started. At the same time the following electric circuit iscompleted.

The electromagnet LM8 is energized to draw the clutch actuating rod L46in its direction. Thereby the clutch L52 is engaged by the connectingrod L48 and the feed screw L27 is moved to the left by the change gearL54, the chain L53 and the chain gear L26, the driven shaft L43 beingrotated by the belt L45. Thus the rack L24 is moved to the left to movethe endless belt L22 in the direction shown by the arrow. A filledcontainer L23 on the endless belt L22 conveyed away and an emptycontainer L23 comes just under the discharge port. On the other hand,the level of the liquid in the vessel L1 rises gradually with the floatL3 until the operable switch LS1 is contacted and closed by thesupporting rod L4 so that the following circuit is completed.

The electromagnet LM3 is energized and the feed valve L12 is closed bythe opening and closing lever L14 which is turned from the full lineposition to the broken line position shown in the drawing so that thefeeding operation of the liquid is stopped and the predeterminedquantity of the material is in the vessel L1.

When an empty container L23 on said endless belt comes just under thedischarge port L6, the rack L24 contacts switch LS to close the same.Thus the circuit E- LSS-LMS energizes the electromagnet LM5 to turn theweight L17 to the side of switch LS2. As a result theswitch LS3 isopened, the switch LS2 is closed and the circuit E-LS2LM1 is completedto energize the electromagnet LM 1. Thereby, the lever L9 is turned fromthe full line position to the broken line position to open the dischargevalve L8 so that the predetermined quantity of the liquid in the vesselL1 is discharged into the container L23 positioned just under thedischarge port L6. At this time, switch LS4 is closed by the lever L9.At the same time the circuit ELS2-LM7 is completed to energize theelectromagnet LM7 so that the actuating rod L46 is pulled theretowards.Therefore, the clutch L51 is engaged by the connecting rod L47, whilethe clutch L52 is disengaged by the connecting rod L48. The driven shaftL42 which is rotated in an opposite direction to that of shaft L43 bythe action of the crossed belt L44, causes the change gear L26 to bedriven in reverse direction. Thus, the feed screw L26 starts to move therack L24 rightward. Therefore, switch LS5 is opened. However, theendless belt L22 remains at rest because the gear L25 engaging with therack and mounted on the driving shaft for the endless belt L22 onlyidles as mentioned above. The movement to the right of the rack L24 iscontinued until it returns to its initial position. In this position,the thread portion L30 of the fly wheel L29 mounted at the left end ofthe feed screw L27 engages with the gear L26 and thereby the fly wheelL29 is only idled so that the rack L24 stays in its position in spite ofthe continued operation of the motor. When the liquid in the measuringvessel L1 is completely discharged into the container L23 and the vesselL1 is emptied, the time control switch LTC operates to energize theelectromagnet LM6 so that the weight L17 is turned to its initialposition. As a result thereof, the switch LS2 is opened and the switchLS3 is closed. Thus, the feeding of liquid and displacement of thetransferring device are repeated again.

FIG. 4 shows a volume type measuring and discharging device for grainmaterial. VI is a measuring vessel, on the bottom of which is arranged adischarge port and which is provided with a cover V2 pivoted thereon soas to be freely opened or closed. Said cover V2 is connected through acable V3 to a wind up shaft V4 which is connected by a clutch V5 to arotary shaft of a motor VMOl mounted on the top of the measuring vesselV1. V6 is an L-shaped lever, one arm of which holds the clutch V5 andthe other arm of which is connected through a cable V7 to a core of anelectromagnet VM for turning said L-shaped lever V6. When theelectromagnet VM is energized, the cable V7 is pulled therein and theL-shaped lever V6 is pivoted about a shaft V8 to move the clutch V5 heldby one arm in the direction shown by the arrow against a spring V9 andto thereby disengage said clutch V5. Being disengaged with the motorVMOl, said shaft V4 is unwound to open the cover V2. When saidelectromagnet VM is deenergized, the clutch V5 is simultaneously engagedby the pressure of said spring V9. V10 is a reservoir, in the bottom ofwhich is arranged a screw conveyor V11 driven by a motor VMO2 through abelt. VMS is a magnetic switch and when it is energized the motor VMO2is started. VS1 is a switch which is arranged in such position that itis controlled by the closing and opening of said cover V2. Contacts VP1and VP2 of the switch are in a feeding circuit and are electricallyconnected when the cover V2 is closed. Contacts VP1 and VP3 are in aclosing circuit and are electrically connected when the cover V2 isopened.

The illustrated state shows the cover closed. There is arranged anoperable switch VS2 on the rear side of an adjusting plate V12 so as tobe controlled by said plate V12 which is pivoted on and depends from ashaft V13 disposed at a suitable level on a side opposite to the feedport side of the vessel V1, said switch corresponding to the operableswitch LS1 in the first embodiment. The switch VS2 is opened when theadjusting plate V12 is moved as shown by the broken line by the pressureof material in the measuring vessel V1 and thereby a feeding circuit isopened to stop the feeding operation of material. The illustrated stateshows the adjusting plate released. In order that any suitablemodification in quantity retained in vessel V1 is desired, it is onlynecessary to relocate said operable switch VS2 in the vessel V1. Thematerial in the reservoir is fed into the measuring vessel V1 andincreases gradually in volumeand at last the pressure. of the materialcauses rotation of the adjusting plate from the full line position tothe broken line position as shown in FIG. 4. When the material in themeasuring vessel V1 thereby reaches a predetermined quantity, saidswitch VS2 is pressed and opened by adjusting plate V12 and thereby thefeeding circuit is opened, so that the motor VMO1 and the feedingoperation of material is stopped. By the closing of a switchcorresponding to the switch LS5 in FIG. 1 the switch change-over deviceis actuated and the material in vessel V1 is discharged into acontainer. That is to say the switch VS3 (corresponding to the switchLS2) in the change-over device is closed, a circuit to the electromagnetVM energizes the same to pull down the cable V7 so that the L-shapedlever V6 is turned about the shaft V8 to disengage the clutch V5, andtherefore the cover V2 is opened by its own weight and the material todischarge the latter from the vessel V1. Since the material dischargingis controlled by the time control switch VTC the electromagnet VM, aftercompletion of the material discharging, is disengaged to engage theclutch V5. As the contacts VP1 and VP2 in said switch VS1 have beencontacted by the opening of the cover V2 the motor VMO1 is started andthereby pulls up the cover V2 through the winding shaft V4 and the cableV3 by engagement of the clutch V5 to close the discharging port. By thisclosing the contacts VP1 and VP3 in the switch VS1 are opened, thecontacts VP1 and VP2 are connected, the motor VMO1 is stopped and theclosing operation of the cover V2 is terminated. At the same time,switch VS2 is released from the pressure of the adjusting plate by thedischarging of the material and thereby closed so that the materialfeeding circuit is closed through said contacts VP1 and VP2 and thematerial feeding operation is effected again. At this time said switchchange-over device is restored to its initial position and the filledcontainer is transferred through the switch (corresponding to the switchLS3 in FIG. 1).

The apparatus shown in FIG. 5 is adapted to fill an accurate quantity ofmaterial in weight by the discharging'of excess material when it isexcessively fed into a measuring vessel.

A reservoir W1 for material, mounted above a measuring vessel W2 has avalve W3 which is opened by an electromagnet WM1 against the action of aspring W4. A main discharge port mounted on the lower part of themeasuring vessel W2 is provided with a cover W5 which opens and closessaid port. The cover is connected by a connecting rod W6 to a lever W7pivoted on a pivot W8 on a supporting plate W9 projecting from a side ofsaid measuring vessel W2, said cover W5 being opened by an electromagnetWM2 connected to said lever W7 and being closed by a spring W10. Themeasuring vessel W2 is provided with an auxiliary discharging port fordischarging excess material on its inclined surface, in which is a chuteW11 with a cover W12 for opening and closing said auxiliary port. Thecover W12 is connected by a connecting rod W13 to a lever W14 pivoted ona pivot W15 and is opened by an electromagnet WM3, to a coreof which isattached said lever W14, and closed by a spring W16.

The measuring vessel W2 is connected to a balance beam W17 through acable W18. A staff W19 for the balance beam is provided with a switchWS1 at its upper portion and a switch WS2 at its lower portion andbetween which an end portion of the balance beam W17 is placed. A switchW83 is arranged at such a position as to be controlled by the turning oflever W7 and in turn controls electromagnet WM1.

The illustrated state is that in which material is being fed into themeasuring vessel W2, by reason of the closing of circuit E-WSl(WP1WP2)-WS3-WM1, the electromagnet WM1 being energized to open a valveW3 so that material in the reservoir W1 is fed into the measuring vesselW2. The end portion of the balance beam rises as the material in themeasuring vessel W2 increases gradually in weight and thereby thecontacts WP1 and WP2 in the switch WSZ are opened so that the feedingoperation is stopped and the contacts WP1 and WP3 are connected. In thiscase the end portion of the balance beam further rises to contact switchWSl and to connect the contacts WP4 and WP5 so that the electromagnetWM3 is energized because of the introduction of excess material intovessel W2. Because of the connection of contacts WP4 and WP5 the leverW14 is turned to the position shown by the broken line about the pivotW15 to open the cover W12 of the auxiliary discharge port so that theexcess material is discharged out of vessel through the chute W11. Thenbalance beam W17 is lowered and achieves a horizontal position, whenmaterial in the vessel reaches the predetermined quantity, to releasethe switch WSl and open the contacts WP4 and WP5 and to deenergize theelectromagnet WM3 so that the lever W14 is turned to the full lineposition by the spring W16 to close the cover W12. The dischargingoperation of the excess material is thereby stopped. Now a switch(corresponding to the switch LS2 in FIG. 1) is closed, to operate theelectromagnet WM2 so that the main discharging port is opened throughthe lever W7 to dispense the measured material into a container. Uponthe completion of this operation, electromagnet WM2 is deenergized by acircuit (including an electromagnet WM4 corresponding to theelectromagnet LM6 in FIG. 1) shown by the broken line to close the maindischarge port and the measurement of material is performed again.

FIG. 6 shows an apparatus wherein measuring material stored in ameasuring tank N1 is filled into a bag N2 through a hopper N3, a tubeN4, and a nozzle N5 in response to the transferring of the bag to afilling position.

In FIGURE 6 there is shown a device for feeding a bag into its fillingposition, by a suction plate N6 by which a bag N2 at a waiting positionis sucked by the displacement of plate N6 through a lever N7 when anelectromagnet NMl is energized. Since a switch NSla of a change-overdevice N81 is closed in response to the releasing of a filled bag whichhas already been at the filling position, a reversible motor NMOl isrotated through a switch NS2. Therefore, the feeding device N8 is raisedthrough a pinion N9 and a rack N10 to feed the bag N2 to the fillingposition. Said switch N52 is so arranged that it is changed over whensaid rack advances to the filling position as shown by the broken line.The motor NMOl is stopped by the change-over of the switch NS2, and thebag N2 is stopped at the filling position while at the same time achanging-over device NS3 is changed over by the switch NS2 to close aswitch N831: and to rotate a motor NMO2. From this rotation feed gearsN11 and N12 are rotated in oppposite directions from a shaft N13 bybelts N14 and N15 and belt pulleys so that feed rods N16 and N17 aredisplaced towards the walls of the bag N2 are the upper opening thereof.Suction plates N18 and N19 attached to said rods N16 and N17 engage theside walls of the bag. By the action of suction a rod N20 inserted inthe rod N16 is actuated to push a switch NS4 and close the same. Thisclosure causes said change-over device NS3 to return to the originalstate shown, opening switch NS3a and closing switch NS3b to stop themotor NMO2. Upon the closing of said switch NS4 the change-over deviceN81 is restored to the original state as shown to open the switch NSlzzand close the switch NSlb. Thereby an electromagnet NM2 is energized sothat air is injected into said suction plate N6 by means of a releasemeans N21 to break adhesion between plate N6 and the bag. At the sametime the motor NMOI is reversely rotated by closure of a switch N55 andthe feeding device N8 is lowered to its original position at whichswitch N55 is opened to stop the motor NMOl. On the other hand, themotor NMO2 is reversely rotated through a switch N56 by the closing ofsaid switch NS3b and the feeding rods N16 and N17 are moved in oppositedirections (shown by the arrows in the drawing) to open the bag. Thefeeding rod N17 contacts switch N56 at the end of its displacement andthe motor NMO2 is stopped and the opening action ceases. At the sametime a changeover device N57 is actuated to close a switch N57a androtate a motor NMO3 through a switch N58 on the tube N4. Thereby thenozzle N of the tube N4 is inserted into the opening of the bag N2 bybeing driven by a rack N22 on the side of the tube N4 through the actionof a pinion N23 which is driven by motor NMO3. A bellow N24 between thehopper N3 and the tube N4 is elongated as the tube descends. When thetube is lowered to a given position the switch N58 is changed over by astopper N25 arranged at a position corresponding to the above mentionedgiven position to stop the motor NMO3. A change over device N59 isoperated through the switch N58 to open a switch N59a and close a switchN591). A discharge means NM3 on the measuring tank N1 is operated sothat a measured quantity of material in the tank N1 is discharged intothe hopper N3 and filled into bag N2 via nozzle N5 and tube N4. Thenvibrating devices N26 and N27 respectively attached to the hopper N3 anda supporting member of the bag may be so operated that the material isfed smoothly from the hopper through the tube into the bag and filledclosely in the bag. After the completion of the filling a time switchNTS in the changing-over device N59 is operated to close the switch NS9aand open the switch N59b and thereby the filling action is stopped andthe changing-over device N57 is activated to open the switch N57a andclose switch N57 b and to reversely rotate the motor NMO3 through switchN5. Then the tube N4 is raised to open the switch NS which is arrangedat a given position so that the motor NMO3 is stopped to cease theraising action. At the same time, the measuring tank N1 is fedautomatically with material from a feeding device N28 and stored with apredetermined quantity of material in a manner similar to that in FIGS.1, 4 or 5. During raising of the tube N4, i.e. upon closure of switchNS7b electromagnet NMl is energized, and the suction plate N6 sucks thefollowing bag. After the completion of the filling of materials, anelectromagnet NM4 is energized by the closing of the switch N59a1 sothat a suction releasing device N29 for the suction plates N18 and N19is actuated to inject air into said plates. Thereby the bag is releasedfrom each plate and freely falls to a feed station. Simultaneously withsaid action the change-over device N51 is operated to close the switchN51a, and the above mentioned operations are repeated again.

If a bag is opened widely, the up and down motion of the nozzle is notnecessary. In this case the circuits to the electromagnet of thechange-over device N57 operated by the closing of the switch S6 andbetween the electromagnet of the change-over device N59 and the switchN58 are eliminated and a circuit to the electromagnet of the device N59is added as shown by the broken line. Material is then directlydischarged through the hopper into a bag.

The present invention has been explained by the illustratedconstructions, but it is not limited by such constructions, and isintended to include any modifications and changes within the scope ofone skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for automatically filling bags comprising bag opening meansincluding a pair of rods having adjoining ends, suction members on saidends, driving means for reciprocating at least one of said rods; bagfeeding means for feeding a bag between said suction members; firstsensing means which operates in response to the feeding of a bag betweensaid suction members on said rods by said bag feeding means; firstactuating means for actuating said driving means which moves said onerod towards the other by the action of said first sensing means so as tocause said suction members to suck and hold the opposite side walls ofthe bag; second actuating means for actuating said driving means to movesaid one rod away from the other and open the bag by said suctionmembers; second sensing means operative in response to the opening ofthe bag; and material feeding means for feeding material into the openedbag by the action of said second sensing means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further including means for actuatingsaid material feeding means for feeding material into the opened bag bythe movement of the rods away from each other.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, further including guide means forguiding material from said material feeding means into the bag and meansfor actuating said material feeding means in response to the insertingof said guide means into the opened bag.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, further including means for loweringsaid guide means into the opened bag by the relative movement of therods away from each other, and means for raising the guiding means uponthe completion of the feeding of material into the bag.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said material feeding meansincludes a measuring tank and means for automatically measuring andstoring in said tank a predetermined quantity of material after thedischarging of material into the bag.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said driving means is coupledto both rods to reciprocally drive the same.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bag feeding meanscomprises means for engaging the first of a stack of bags by suction,means for displacing the engaging means between the rods when they areaway from one another, and means for releasing the suction of theengaging means after the suction members on the rods have engaged theside walls of the bag.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said bag feeding meanscomprises means for acting on said displacing means to withdraw theengaging means to its original position for engaging the next bag in thestack after the suction members on the rods have engaged the side wallsof the bag.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising means for subjecting thebag and the material feeding means to vibration while the bag is beingfilled.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising means for releasing thesuction in said suction members after the bag has been filled to enablerelease of the filled bag.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,546,193 3/1951 Lindstaedt et al53-488 2,753,097 7/1956 Kindseth et al 53l88 2,781,620 2/1957 Hopkins eta1.

3,050,918 8/1962 Helm et al 53--l88 X TRAVIS 5. McGEHEE, PrimaryExaminer.

1. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY FILLING BAGS COMPRISING BAG OPENING MEANSINCLUDING A PAIR OF RODS HAVING ADJOINING ENDS, SUCTION MEMBERS ON SAIDENDS, DRIVING MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID RODS; BAGFEEDING MEANS FOR FEEDING A BAG BETWEEN SAID SUCTION MEMBERS; FIRSTSENSING MEANS WHICH OPERATES IN RESPONSE TO THE FEEDING OF A BAG BETWEENSAID SUCTION MEMBERS ON SAID RODS BY SAID BAG FEEDING MEANS; FIRSTACTUATING MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID DRIVING MEANS WHICH MOVES SAID ONEROD TOWARDS THE OTHER BY THE ACTION OF SAID FIRST SENSING MEANS SO AS TOCAUSE SAID SUCTION MEMBERS TO SUCK AND HOLD THE OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS OFTHE BAG; SECOND ACTUATING MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID DRIVING MEANS TO MOVESAID ONE ROD AWAY FROM THE OTHER AND OPEN THE BAG BY SAID SUCTIONMEMBERS; SECOND SENSING MEANS OPERATIVE IN RESPONSE TO THE OPENING OFTHE BAG; AND MATERIAL FEEDING